Daily Telegraph’s NRL digital crew pick their 2018 team of the year
WE have cracked our heads together in an effort to produce their team of the year after many hours of debate, name-calling and hurt feelings. Check out our NRL team of the year for 2018.
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AS the end of the season looms, conversation always turns to awards.
The Dally M, the Clive Churchill Medal, the Player’s Champion, they’re all coveted and wrapped in prestige.
We’ve crunched the numbers (3-2-1 votes were entered for every position) to come up with a team of the year.
The highest polling player gets in, as well as the runner up for positions like wing, centre, second row and prop.
To determine the interchange we picked the three highest polling forwards and the highest polling back who missed out on the original 17.
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FULLBACK
Valentine Holmes
The Sharks speedster was already a star winger for his club, state and country but took it to a new level when he moved to fullback a quarter way through the season.
His 21 tries were second in the league among all players, his 34 total try involvements were the most of any non-halves player, and his 25 line breaks were the most of anyone in the competition. It was a meteoric rise for Holmes, who proved beyond all doubt that fullback is his best spot.
Other nominees: James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga
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WINGERS
Blake Ferguson
Whatever you may think of him, Ferguson has enjoyed a mighty season. His 4569 metres gained are the most in the competition by any player, almost 500 clear of runner up Jason Taumalolo and he was the only player to clock more than 400 runs. He’s second in the league for line breaks and in the top five for tries, showcasing a mix of attacking brilliance and industrious work ethic that has not always been part of his game. Ferguson has had more brilliant seasons but has never been more consistent.
Corey Oates
A consistent performer all season, Oates kicked up another notch over the final two months in the competition and proved beyond all doubt that he must not ever be allowed to move to the second row. Oates was equal third in the league for tries and line breaks and his 3076 run metres was the 11th highest total in the league, second among all wingers. The big Bronco may well make a fine backrower one day, but moving him would rob the game of one of it’s most dynamic and unique finishers.
Other nominees: David Fusitu’a, Josh Addo-Carr, Rob Jennings
CENTRES
Latrell Mitchell
It’s feast or famine with the Roosters star and there was a whole lot of feasting in 2018. Mitchell led all centres in tries, line breaks and tackle busts, emerging as one of the game’s most damaging outside backs while also taking up the goalkicking duties and finishing second on the pointscoring lists. His touches are not as numerous as some other players, but his impact is difficult to deny.
Esan Marsters
Where Mitchell was light on grunt and big on attacking stats, Marsters is the other side of the coin. The young Tiger could only manage three tries from 24 matches but he was the only centre to crack 3000 metres gained and his 126 metres per match was the highest average of any centre who played at least 15 games. He also led all centres in offloads with 49 and was fifth in tackle busts with 65.
Other nominees: Joey Leilua, James Roberts, Greg Inglis
FIVE-EIGHTH
Cody Walker
The Rabbitohs five-eighth is the master distributor behind South Sydney’s sparkling attack, totalling 48 total try involvments, the most of any player in the league. With 16 try assists, 20 try contributions and 12 four-pointers to his name, Walker was at the heart of everything the Rabbitohs did with the ball this season. He also had the most line breaks of any regular five-eighth with 17, the most line break assists with 26 and the most tackle busts with 58.
Other nominees: Anthony Milford, Gareth Widdop, Cameron Munster
HALFBACK
Cooper Cronk
After some early teething problems, Cronk has done what he always does and helped steer the Roosters to the minor premiership. Cronk’s 14 try assists was the equal third most of any top eight halfback and his kicking game transformed what the Chooks were capable of. With 287 kicks in play, Cronk led the entire league and his 17 forced drop outs were the equal highest total of any top eight halfback.
Other nominees: Ben Hunt, Luke Brooks, Johnathan Thurston, Shaun Johnson
FRONT ROW
David Klemmer
In a difficult season for Canterbury, David Klemmer did all he could to help lead his teammates forward. His 3845 metres was the best total by any prop in the league and was over 400 metres more than his nearest rival, Martin Taupau. This was also good enough for the fourth highest total in the entire league. Front row, more than perhaps any other position, is a numbers game and Klemmer’s were truly outstanding this season.
Andrew Fifita
The controversial Shark has peaks and valleys over the course of a season but the peaks are mighty high. With 2904 metres gained, fifth among props, as well as 67 offloads, good enough for second in the league, Fifita enjoyed another fine season. He can do things no other prop in the competition can do and, on his day, has a gear few others can match.
Other nominees: Martin Taupau, Nelson Asofa-Solomona
HOOKER
Damien Cook
Perhaps the easiest choice in the entire team. Cook exploded to life this season after several seasons on the periphery, using his incredible speed and acceleration to great effect around the middle of the ruck. Among full time hookers Cook had the most line breaks, line break assists, metres gained, runs and offloads and was third in total tackles. The only attacking category he didn’t lead all dummy halves was try assists and even then he was second overall. Cook may well win the Dally M and it would be richly deserved.
Other nominees: Issac Luke, Josh Hodgson, Cam McInnes
SECOND ROW
Tyson Frizell
The Dragons hardman enjoyed his best season in first grade for club and state, working hard on the edge and bringing plenty of impact on both sides of the ball. Frizell helped give the Dragons a tougher edge that went beyond the stat sheet and has firmly established himself as one of the top second rowers in the game.
Viliame Kikau
An explosive attacking presence on the left edge for Penrith, Kikau’s first full season in first grade was a glimpse of his incredible potential. The Fijian ran for 2786 metres, the most of any edge forward, while also notching the equal third most line breaks, the most tackle busts and the second most line break assists. With an ability to beat a man with speed, strength, footwork or skill, Kikau seems to be the total package.
Other nominees: Angus Crichton, Tariq Sims, Gavin Cooper
LOCK
Jason Taumalolo
He’s not human. He just can’t be. The North Queensland superhero was exemplary again, joining Ferguson as the only men to run for over 4000 metres and his 177 metres per game is more than what he accumulated in his Dally M winning season in 2016. Taumalolo’s 89 tackle busts was the most of any forward and his 399 total runs was a full 77 ahead of the runner up, Jai Arrow. There’s nobody like him in the game and he’s quickly becoming a legend before our eyes.
Other nominees: Sam Burgess, Jack de Belin
INTERCHANGE
Cameron Smith - runner up, hookers
The old master still has plenty in the tank. Smith’s impact for Melbourne goes beyond the numbers with the veteran forced to pick up a greater share of the organising and playmaking responsibilities following the departure of Cooper Cronk. His try assist total was down but his total try involvements was third among hookers, an indicator of the big role he still plays in getting the Storm around the park.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - runner up, fullback
The Dally M favourite has enjoyed a terrific return to form for the Warriors, tallying the second most run metres of any fullback (3799 from 351 carries) as well as 13 line breaks, 90 tackle busts, 28 offloads and 10 try assists. His industrious play from the back has helped propel New Zealand back to the finals and his defence has improved out of sight.
Jai Arrow - runner up, lock
A strong candidate for buy of the year, the newly minted Gold Coast Titan boasted an endless appetite for work at the back of the scrum. His 2870 run metres was second only to Taumalolo while his 37 offloads were the most of any lock in the league. Arrow shapes as a long-term stalwart for the Titans and Queensland.
Tevita Pangai Junior - runner up, second row
The most exciting young forward in the league could have pushed for a starting spot had his matches not been split between the middle and the edge this season. A dynamic attacking presence who uses his speed, mobility, power and footwork to damaging effect, Pangai Junior shapes as a future Dally M contender once he settles into a single position in the forward pack.
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